Separating impurities from a gas stream using a vertically oriented co-current contacting system

ABSTRACT

A vertically oriented co-current contacting system and methods for separating impurities from a gas stream including a vertically oriented co-current contactor (VOCC) located in-line within a pipe, a vertically oriented mixer (VOM) including an annular support ring configured to maintain the VOM within the pipe, a number of radial blades configured to allow a liquid stream to flow into the VOM, and a central gas entry cone configured to allow a gas stream to flow through a hollow section within the VOM, a vertically oriented mass transfer section downstream of the VOM. The VOM and the vertically oriented mass transfer section provide for efficient incorporation of liquid droplets including impurities from the gas stream formed from the liquid stream into the gas stream. The vertically oriented co-current contacting system also includes a separation system configured to remove the liquid droplets.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 61/821,614 filed May 9, 2013 entitled SEPARATING IMPURITIES FROM A GAS STREAM USING A VERTICALLY ORIENTED CO-CURRENT CONTRACTING SYSTEM, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein.

FIELD

The present techniques provide for the separation of impurities from a gas stream using a vertically oriented co-current contacting system. More specifically, the present techniques provide for the incorporation of liquid droplets formed from a liquid stream into a gas stream to effect the removal of impurities from the gas stream using a vertically oriented co-current contacting system.

BACKGROUND

This section is intended to introduce various aspects of the art, which may be associated with exemplary embodiments of the present techniques. This discussion is believed to assist in providing a framework to facilitate a better understanding of particular aspects of the present techniques. Accordingly, it should be understood that this section should be read in this light, and not necessarily as admissions of prior art.

The production of hydrocarbons from a reservoir oftentimes carries with it the incidental production of non-hydrocarbon gases. Such gases include contaminants such as hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), carbon dioxide (CO₂), and water. When H₂S or CO₂ are produced as part of a hydrocarbon gas stream, such as methane or ethane, the raw gas stream is sometimes referred to as “sour gas.” The H₂S and CO₂ are often referred to together as “acid gases.”

In addition to hydrocarbon production streams, acid gases may be associated with synthesis gas streams, or with refinery gas streams. Acid gases may also be present within so-called flash gas streams in gas processing facilities. Further, acid gases may be generated by the combustion of coal, natural gas, or other carbonaceous fuels.

Natural gas streams may contain not only H₂S or CO₂, but may also contain other “acidic” impurities. These include mercaptans and other trace sulfur compounds (SO_(x)). In addition, natural gas streams may contain water. Such impurities are often removed prior to industrial or residential use.

Processes have been devised to remove contaminants from a raw natural gas stream. In the case of acid gases, cryogenic gas processing is sometimes used, particularly to remove CO₂ to prevent line freezing and orifice plugging. In other instances, particularly with H₂S removal, the hydrocarbon fluid stream is treated with a solvent. Solvents may include chemical solvents such as amines Examples of amines used in sour gas treatment include monoethanol amine (MEA), diethanol amine (DEA), and methyl diethanol amine (MDEA).

Physical solvents are sometimes used in lieu of amine solvents. Examples include Selexol® and Rectisol™. In some instances, hybrid solvents, meaning mixtures of physical and chemical solvents, have been used. An example is Sulfinol®. In addition, the use of amine-based acid gas removal solvents is common.

Amine-based solvents rely on a chemical reaction with the acid gases. The reaction process is sometimes referred to as “gas sweetening.” Such chemical reactions are generally more effective than the physical-based solvents, particularly at feed gas pressures below about 300 psia (2.07 MPa). There are instances where special chemical solvents such as Flexsorb™ are used, particularly for selectively removing H₂S from CO₂-containing gas streams.

As a result of the gas sweetening process, a treated or “sweetened” gas stream is created. The sweetened gas stream is substantially depleted of H₂S and/or CO₂ components. The sweetened gas stream can be further processed for liquids recovery, that is, by condensing out heavier hydrocarbon gases. The sweetened gas stream may be sold into a pipeline or may be used for liquefied natural gas (LNG) feed if the CO₂ concentration is less than, for example, about 50 ppm. In addition, the sweetened gas stream may be used as feedstock for a gas-to-liquids process, and then ultimately used to make waxes, butanes, lubricants, glycols, or other petroleum-based products. The extracted CO₂ may be sold, or may be injected into a subterranean reservoir for enhanced oil recovery (EOR) operations.

When a natural gas stream contains water, a dehydration process is usually undertaken before acid gas removal. This is done through the use of glycol or other desiccant in a water separator. The dehydration of natural gas is performed to control the formation of gas hydrates and to prevent corrosion of distribution pipelines. The formation of gas hydrates and the corrosion of distribution pipelines can cause a decrease in flow volume as well as frozen control valves, plugged orifices, and other operating problems.

Traditionally, the removal of acid gases or water from a raw natural gas stream using a chemical solvent (or desiccant) involves counter-currently contacting the raw natural gas stream with the chemical solvent. The raw natural gas stream is introduced into the bottom section of a contacting tower. At the same time, the chemical solvent is directed into a top section of the tower. The tower has trays, packing, or other “internals.” As the chemical solvent cascades through the internals, it absorbs the undesirable components, carrying them away through the bottom of the contacting tower as part of a “rich” solvent solution. At the same time, gaseous fluid that is largely depleted of the undesirable components exits at the top of the tower.

The rich solvent or rich glycol that exits the contactor is sometimes referred to as an absorbent liquid. Following absorption, a process of regeneration (also called “desorption”) may be employed to separate contaminants from the active solvent of the absorbent liquid. This produces a “lean” solvent or a “lean” glycol that is then typically recycled into the contacting tower for further absorption.

Known counter-current contactors used for dehydration or for H₂S and CO₂ absorption tend to be very large and heavy. This creates particular difficulty in offshore oil and gas production applications, where smaller equipment is desirable. Further, the transport and set-up of large tower-based facilities is difficult for shale gas production operations that frequently take place in remote locations.

SUMMARY

An exemplary embodiment provides a vertically oriented co-current contacting system for separating impurities from a gas stream. The vertically oriented co-current contacting system includes a vertically oriented co-current contactor located in-line within a pipe. The vertically oriented co-current contactor includes a vertically oriented mixer including an annular support ring configured to maintain the vertically oriented mixer within the pipe, a number of radial blades configured to allow a liquid stream to flow into the vertically oriented mixer, and a central gas entry cone configured to allow a gas stream to flow through a hollow section within the vertically oriented mixer. The vertically oriented co-current contactor also includes a vertically oriented mass transfer section downstream of the vertically oriented mixer. The vertically oriented mixer and the vertically oriented mass transfer section provide for efficient incorporation of liquid droplets formed from the liquid stream into the gas stream. The liquid droplets include impurities from the gas stream. The vertically oriented co-current contacting system also includes a separation system configured to remove the liquid droplets including the impurities from the gas stream.

Another exemplary embodiment provides a method for separating impurities from a gas stream. The method includes flowing a liquid stream into a vertically oriented mixer of a vertically oriented co-current contactor via an annular support ring and a number of radial blades extending from the annular support ring, wherein the annular support ring secures the vertically oriented mixer in-line within a pipe. The method also includes flowing a gas stream into the vertically oriented mixer via a central gas entry cone that is supported by the radial blades, wherein a first portion of the gas stream flows through the central gas entry cone and a second portion of the gas stream flows around the central gas entry cone between the radial blades. The method also includes contacting the gas stream with the liquid stream within the vertically oriented mixer and a vertically oriented mass transfer section of the vertically oriented co-current contactor to provide for incorporation of liquid droplets formed from the liquid stream into the gas stream, wherein the liquid droplets include impurities from the gas stream. The method further includes separating the liquid droplets including the impurities from the gas stream within a separation system.

Another exemplary embodiment provides a method for separating impurities from a natural gas stream. The method includes flowing a semi-lean solvent stream into a first vertically oriented co-current contactor of a vertically oriented co-current contacting system and flowing a natural gas stream into the first vertically oriented co-current contactor. The method includes contacting the natural gas stream with the semi-lean solvent stream within the first vertically oriented co-current contactor to provide a first multi-phase stream, wherein the first multi-phase stream includes the natural gas stream with incorporated liquid droplets formed from the semi-lean solvent stream that include impurities from the natural gas stream. The method also includes flowing the first multi-phase stream into a second vertically oriented co-current contactor of the vertically oriented co-current contacting system and flowing a lean solvent stream into the second vertically oriented co-current contactor. The method also includes contacting the first multi-phase stream with the lean solvent stream within the second vertically oriented co-current contactor to provide a second multi-phase stream, wherein the second multi-phase stream includes the natural gas stream with additional incorporated liquid droplets formed from the lean solvent stream that include residual impurities from the natural gas stream. The method further includes separating the second multi-phase stream into a purified natural gas stream and a rich solvent stream within a separation system of the vertically oriented co-current contacting system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The advantages of the present techniques are better understood by referring to the following detailed description and the attached drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a process flow diagram of a chemical solvent-based gas processing system;

FIG. 2A is a process flow diagram of a gas processing system that includes a vertically oriented co-current flow scheme;

FIG. 2B is a process flow diagram of another gas processing system that includes a vertically oriented co-current flow scheme;

FIG. 3 is a schematic of a column for separating a feed stream into a gas stream and a liquid stream;

FIG. 4A is a process flow diagram of a separation system including a number of vertically oriented co-current contacting systems that may be placed in a shell;

FIG. 4B is a process flow diagram of the separation system of FIG. 4A including the vertically oriented co-current contacting systems with the addition of a number of heat exchangers;

FIG. 5 is a process flow diagram of a number of vertically oriented co-current contacting systems that operate in connection with one or more flash drums;

FIG. 6 is a process flow diagram of a gas regeneration facility including a number of vertically oriented co-current contacting systems;

FIG. 7A is a process flow diagram of a vertically oriented co-current contacting system including a vertically oriented co-current contactor and a vertically oriented separation system;

FIG. 7B is a process flow diagram of the vertically oriented co-current contacting system of FIG. 7A including the vertically oriented co-current contactor and a horizontally oriented separation system;

FIG. 7C is a process flow diagram of the vertically oriented co-current contacting system of FIG. 7A including a number of vertically oriented co-current contactors connected in series upstream of the vertically oriented separation system;

FIG. 8 is a process flow diagram of a vertically oriented co-current contacting system including a number of vertically oriented co-current contactors and a vertically oriented separation system that may be used to purify a natural gas stream;

FIG. 9 is a schematic of a vertically oriented co-current contacting system;

FIG. 10A is a top view of a vertically oriented mixer;

FIG. 10B is a top perspective view of the vertically oriented mixer of FIG. 10A;

FIG. 10C is a cross-sectional side perspective view of the vertically oriented mixer of FIGS. 10A and 10B;

FIG. 10D is another cross-sectional side perspective view of the vertically oriented mixer of FIGS. 10A-C;

FIG. 11 is a process flow diagram of a method for separating impurities from a gas stream; and

FIG. 12 is a process flow diagram of a method for separating impurities from a natural gas stream using a vertically-oriented co-current contacting system that includes multiple vertically-oriented co-current contactors upstream of a single separation system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description section, specific embodiments of the present techniques are described. However, to the extent that the following description is specific to a particular embodiment or a particular use of the present techniques, this is intended to be for exemplary purposes only and simply provides a description of the exemplary embodiments. Accordingly, the techniques are not limited to the specific embodiments described below, but rather, include all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents falling within the true spirit and scope of the appended claims.

At the outset, for ease of reference, certain terms used in this application and their meanings as used in this context are set forth. To the extent a term used herein is not defined below, it should be given the broadest definition persons in the pertinent art have given that term as reflected in at least one printed publication or issued patent. Further, the present techniques are not limited by the usage of the terms shown below, as all equivalents, synonyms, new developments, and terms or techniques that serve the same or a similar purpose are considered to be within the scope of the present claims.

“Acid gas” refers to any gas that produces an acidic solution when dissolved in water. Non-limiting examples of acid gases include hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), carbon dioxide (CO₂), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), carbon disulfide (CS₂), carbonyl sulfide (COS), mercaptans, or mixtures thereof.

“Co-current contactor” refers to a vessel that receives a gas stream and a separate solvent stream in such a manner that the gas stream and the solvent stream contact one another while flowing in generally the same direction. Non-limiting examples include an eductor and a coalescer, or a static mixer plus deliquidizer.

The term “co-currently” refers to the internal arrangement of process streams within a unit operation that can be divided into several sub-sections by which the process streams flow in the same direction.

As used herein, a “column” is a separation vessel in which a counter-current flow is used to isolate materials on the basis of differing properties. In an absorbent column, a solvent is injected into the top, while a mixture of gases to be separated is flowed through the bottom. As the gases flow upwards through the falling stream of solvent, one gas species is preferentially absorbed, lowering its concentration in the vapor stream exiting the top of the column.

In a distillation column, liquid and vapor phases are counter-currently contacted to effect separation of a fluid mixture based on boiling points or vapor pressure differences. The high vapor pressure, or lower boiling, component will tend to concentrate in the vapor phase, whereas the low vapor pressure, or higher boiling, component will tend to concentrate in the liquid phase. Cryogenic separation is a separation process carried out in a column at least in part at temperatures at or below 150 degrees Kelvin (K). To enhance the separation, both types of columns may use a series of vertically spaced trays or plates mounted within the column and/or packing elements such as structured or random packing. Columns may often have a recirculated stream at the base to provide heat energy for boiling the fluids, which is generally referred to as “reboiling.” Further, a portion of the overhead vapor may be condensed and pumped back into the top of the column as a reflux stream, which can be used to enhance the separation and purity of the overhead product. A bulk liquid stripper is related to a column. However, the bulk liquid stripper functions without the use of a reflux stream and, thus, cannot produce a high-purity overhead product.

“Dehydrated gas stream” refers to a natural gas stream that has undergone a dehydration process to remove at least a portion of the water from the natural gas stream. Any suitable process for dehydrating the natural gas stream can be used. Typical examples of suitable dehydration processes include, but are not limited to, treatment of the natural gas stream with molecular sieves or dehydration using glycol or methanol. Alternatively, the natural gas stream can be dehydrated by formation of methane hydrates; for example, using a dehydration process as described in WO 2004/070297.

As used herein, the term “dehydration” refers to the pre-treatment of a raw feed gas stream to partially or completely remove water and, optionally, some heavy hydrocarbons. This can be accomplished by means of a pre-cooling cycle, against an external cooling loop or a cold internal process stream, for example. Water may also be removed by means of pre-treatment with molecular sieves, e.g. zeolites, or silica gel or alumina oxide or other drying agents. Water may also be removed by means of washing with glycol, monoethylene glycol (MEG), diethylene glycol (DEG), triethylene glycol (TEG), or glycerol.

The term “distillation” (or “fractionation”) refers to the process of physically separating chemical components into a vapor phase and a liquid phase based on differences in the components' boiling points and vapor pressures at specified temperatures and pressures. Distillation is typically performed in a “distillation column,” which includes a series of vertically spaced plates. A feed stream enters the distillation column at a mid-point, dividing the distillation column into two sections. The top section may be referred to as the rectification section, and the bottom section may be referred to as the stripping section. Condensation and vaporization occur on each plate, causing lower boiling point components to rise to the top of the distillation column and higher boiling point components to fall to the bottom. A reboiler is located at the base of the distillation column to add thermal energy. The “bottoms” product is removed from the base of the distillation column. A condenser is located at the top of the distillation column to condense the product emanating from the top of the distillation column, which is called the distillate. A reflux pump is used to maintain flow in the rectification section of the distillation column by pumping a portion of the distillate back into the distillation column.

The term “enhanced oil recovery” (EOR) refers to processes for enhancing the recovery of hydrocarbons from subterranean reservoirs. Techniques for improving displacement efficiency or sweep efficiency may be used for the exploitation of an oil field by introducing displacing fluids or gas into injection wells to drive oil through the reservoir to producing wells.

As used herein, the term “fluid” may be used to refer to gases, liquids, combinations of gases and liquids, combinations of gases and solids, or combinations of liquids and solids.

The term “flue gas” refers to any gas stream generated as a by-product of hydrocarbon combustion.

The term “gas” is used interchangeably with “vapor,” and is defined as a substance or mixture of substances in the gaseous state as distinguished from the liquid or solid state. Likewise, the term “liquid” means a substance or mixture of substances in the liquid state as distinguished from the gas or solid state.

A “hydrocarbon” is an organic compound that primarily includes the elements hydrogen and carbon, although nitrogen, sulfur, oxygen, metals, or any number of other elements may be present in small amounts. As used herein, hydrocarbons generally refer to components found in natural gas, oil, or chemical processing facilities.

With respect to fluid processing equipment, the term “in series” means that two or more devices are placed along a flow line such that a fluid stream undergoing fluid separation moves from one item of equipment to the next while maintaining flow in a substantially constant downstream direction. Similarly, the term “in line” means that two or more components of a fluid mixing and separating device are connected sequentially or, more preferably, are integrated into a single tubular device.

The term “industrial plant” refers to any plant that generates a gas stream containing at least one hydrocarbon or an acid gas. One non-limiting example is a coal-powered electrical generation plant. Another example is a cement plant that emits CO₂ at low pressures.

“Liquefied natural gas” (LNG) is natural gas generally known to include a high percentage of methane. However, LNG may also include trace amounts of other elements or compounds. The other elements or compounds may include, but are not limited to, ethane, propane, butane, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, helium, hydrogen sulfide, or any combinations thereof, that have been processed to remove one or more components (for instance, helium) or impurities (for instance, water, acid gas, and/or heavy hydrocarbons) and then condensed into a liquid at almost atmospheric pressure by cooling.

The term “liquid solvent” refers to a fluid in substantially liquid phase that preferentially absorbs one component over another. For example, a liquid solvent may preferentially absorb an acid gas, thereby removing or “scrubbing” at least a portion of the acid gas component from a gas stream or a water stream.

“Natural gas” refers to a multi-component gas obtained from a crude oil well or from a subterranean gas-bearing formation. The composition and pressure of natural gas can vary significantly. A typical natural gas stream contains methane (CH₄) as a major component, i.e., greater than 50 mol % of the natural gas stream is methane. The natural gas stream can also contain ethane (C₂H₆), higher molecular weight hydrocarbons (e.g., C₃-C₂₀ hydrocarbons), one or more acid gases (e.g., carbon dioxide or hydrogen sulfide), or any combinations thereof. The natural gas can also contain minor amounts of contaminants such as water, nitrogen, iron sulfide, wax, crude oil, or any combinations thereof. The natural gas stream may be substantially purified prior to use in embodiments, so as to remove compounds that may act as poisons.

“Non-absorbing gas” refers to a gas that is not significantly absorbed by a solvent during a gas treating or conditioning process.

“Solvent” refers to a substance capable at least in part of dissolving or dispersing one or more other substances, such as to provide or form a solution. The solvent may be polar, nonpolar, neutral, protic, aprotic, or the like. The solvent may include any suitable element, molecule, or compound, such as methanol, ethanol, propanol, glycols, ethers, ketones, other alcohols, amines, salt solutions, or the like. The solvent may include physical solvents, chemical solvents, or the like. The solvent may operate by any suitable mechanism, such as physical absorption, chemical absorption, chemisorption, physisorption, adsorption, pressure swing adsorption, temperature swing adsorption, or the like.

“Substantial” when used in reference to a quantity or amount of a material, or a specific characteristic thereof, refers to an amount that is sufficient to provide an effect that the material or characteristic was intended to provide. The exact degree of deviation allowable may depend, in some cases, on the specific context.

The term “sweetened gas stream” refers to a fluid stream in a substantially gaseous phase that has had at least a portion of acid gas components removed.

Overview

The present techniques provide for the removal of impurities from a gas stream using a vertically oriented co-current contacting system. More specifically, the present techniques provide for the incorporation of liquid droplets formed from a liquid stream into a gas stream to effect the removal of impurities from the gas stream using a vertically oriented co-current contacting system. The vertically oriented co-current contacting system includes a co-current contactor including a mixer and a mass transfer section, as well as a separation system. In various embodiments, the mixer and mass transfer section of the co-current contactor and, optionally, the separation system are vertically oriented.

In various embodiments, the vertically oriented co-current contacting system contacts a gas stream, e.g., a natural gas stream, including impurities with a liquid stream, e.g., a lean or semi-lean solvent stream, by injecting the liquid stream into the gas stream as a fine mist of droplets within the mixer of the co-current contactor. The mist provides a high surface area for the incorporation of the impurities into the liquid stream, for example, by adsorption, dissolution, reaction, and the like, within the mass transfer section of the co-current contactor. A purified gas stream may then be generated by separating the gas stream from the liquid stream including the incorporated impurities within the separation system. In addition, in some embodiments, a co-current contacting system including a number of vertically oriented co-current contactors and corresponding separations systems may be employed to progressively purify the gas stream. Further, in some embodiments, a co-current contacting system including a number of vertically oriented co-current contactors upstream of a single separation system may be employed to purify the gas stream.

Existing co-current contacting systems for removing impurities from gas streams are typically oriented horizontally. Therefore, gravity acts on the liquid stream including the incorporated impurities, causing the liquid stream to accumulate at the bottom of the contacting system. More specifically, gravity may cause the liquid droplets to coalesce into larger liquid droplets, and may drive the larger liquid droplets to create a film on the bottom walls of the piping. This may reduce the area of the mass transfer section that is available for incorporation of the liquid droplets into the gas stream and, thus, reduce the degree of separation of the impurities from the gas stream.

Accordingly, embodiments described herein provide for the separation of impurities from a gas stream using a vertically oriented co-current contacting system. More specifically, the mixer and mass transfer section of the co-current contactor and, optionally, the separation system are oriented vertically according to embodiments described herein. Vertical orientation of the co-current contacting system reduces the influence of gravity on the liquid droplets that have been incorporated into the gas stream. Therefore, the fraction of liquid flowing on the walls of the piping is reduced, and the liquid droplet sizes are reduced through the mass transfer section of the co-current contactor due to less coalescence of the liquid droplets. This may increase the area of the mass transfer section that is available for incorporation of the liquid droplets into the gas stream and, thus, increase the degree of separation of impurities from the gas stream. In addition, vertical orientation of the co-current contacting system reduces the footprint of the co-current contracting system, particularly in the case of off-shore applications, by making the co-current contacting system more compact. Furthermore, vertical orientation of the co-current contacting system may allow the co-current contacting system to be conformed to a wide variety of limited space configurations. The ability to conform the co-current contacting system to such a wide variety of limited space configurations may be desirable for many different applications.

As discussed above, in some embodiments, a co-current contacting system including a number of vertically oriented co-current contactors upstream of a single separation system may be employed to purify a gas stream. In various embodiments, each vertically oriented co-current contacting system includes a vertically oriented mixer and a vertically oriented mass transfer section. The separation system may be either vertically or horizontally oriented, depending on the details of the specific implementation. Moreover, in some embodiments, different solvent streams may be injected into each co-current contactor. For example, a semi-lean solvent stream may be injected into the mixer of the first co-current contactor, and a lean solvent stream may be injected into the mixer of the second co-current contactor. The injection of a fresh or lean solvent stream into the second co-current contactor may reduce the concentration of the impurities within the vertically oriented co-current contacting system and increase the driving force for the incorporation of the liquid droplets into the gas stream. Therefore, the degree of separation of the impurities from the gas stream may be increased. In some embodiments that use multiple co-current contactors in sequence, lean solvent streams may be alternately injected between solvent streams that have various levels of absorbed acid gases.

Gas Processing System

FIG. 1 is a process flow diagram of a chemical solvent-based gas processing system 100. The gas processing system 100 may be used to remove water from a raw natural gas stream 102, generating a dehydrated natural gas stream 104. This may be accomplished by flowing the raw natural gas stream 102 into a contactor 106, which may remove the water from the raw natural gas stream 102. The dehydrated natural gas stream 104 may then be flowed out of the contactor 106 as an overhead stream. In addition, residual water and acid gas components may be removed in connection with a subsequent process, as discussed further herein.

The raw natural gas stream 102 may be obtained from a subsurface reservoir 108 via any suitable type of hydrocarbon recovery operation. The raw natural gas stream 102 may include a non-absorbing gas, such as methane. In addition, the raw natural gas stream 102 may include an acid gas, such as H₂S or CO₂. For example, the raw natural gas stream 102 may include about 0% to 10% H₂S and about 0% to 10% CO₂, along with the hydrocarbon gas.

As shown in FIG. 1, the raw natural gas stream 102 may be flowed into an inlet separator 110 upon entry into the gas processing system 100. When entering the inlet separator 110, the raw natural gas stream 102 may be under a large amount of pressure. However, the pressure of the raw natural gas stream 102 may vary considerably, depending on the characteristics of the subsurface reservoir 108 from which the gas product is produced. For example, the pressure of the raw natural gas stream 102 may range between atmospheric pressure and several thousand psig. For natural gas treating applications, the pressure of the raw natural gas stream 102 may be boosted to about 100 psig or about 500 psig, or greater, if desired.

The inlet separator 110 may clean the raw natural gas stream 102, for example, to prevent foaming of liquid solvent during a later acid gas treatment process. This may be accomplished by separating the raw natural gas stream into liquid-phase components and gas-phase components. The liquid-phase components may include heavy hydrocarbons, a small portion of water, and impurities such as brine, fracturing fluids, and drilling fluids. Such components may be flowed out of the inlet separator 110 via a bottoms line 114, and may be sent to an oil recovery system 116. The gas-phase components may include natural gas and some amount of impurities, such as acid gases and water. Such components may be flowed out of the inlet separator 110 as the overhead natural gas stream 112.

From the inlet separator 110, the natural gas stream 112 may be flowed into the contactor 106. The contactor 106 may use a desiccant, such as a liquid glycol stream 118, to absorb water in the natural gas stream 112. The liquid glycol stream 118 may include various glycols, such as triethylene glycol, among others. The liquid glycol stream 118 may be stored in a glycol tank 120. A pump 122 may force the liquid glycol stream 118 from the glycol tank 120 into the contactor 106 under suitable pressure. For example, the pump 122 may boost the pressure of the liquid glycol stream 118 to about 1,000 psig or higher, depending on the pressure of the raw natural gas stream 102.

Once inside the contactor 106, gas within the natural gas stream 112 moves upward through the contactor 106. Typically, one or more trays 124 or other internals are provided within the contactor 106 to create indirect flow paths for the natural gas stream 112 and to create interfacial area between the gas and liquid phases. At the same time, the liquid from the liquid glycol stream 118 moves downward and across the succession of trays 124 in the contactor 106. The trays 124 aid in the interaction of the natural gas stream 112 with the liquid glycol stream 118.

The contactor 106 operates on the basis of a counter-current flow scheme. In other words, the natural gas stream 112 is directed through the contactor 106 in one direction, while the liquid glycol stream 118 is directed through the contactor 106 in the opposite direction. As the two fluid materials interact, the down-flowing liquid glycol stream 118 absorbs water from the up-flowing natural gas stream 112 to produce the dehydrated natural gas stream 104.

Upon exiting the contactor 106, the dehydrated natural gas stream 104 can be flowed through an outlet separator 126. The outlet separator 126, also referred to as a scrubber, may allow any liquid glycol carried over from the contactor 106 to fall out of the dehydrated natural gas stream 104. The outlet separator 126 may also be used as a water wash vessel to capture vapor-phase solvent. A final dehydrated natural gas stream 128 may be flowed out of the outlet separator 126 via an overhead line 130. Any residual liquid glycol 132 may drop out through a bottoms line 134.

A spent desiccant stream 136 may flow out of the bottom of the contactor 106. The spent desiccant stream 136 may be a glycol solution that is rich in the absorbed water. The spent desiccant stream 136 may be at a relatively low temperature, such as about 90° F. to about 102° F., or higher. In various embodiments, the gas processing system 100 includes equipment for regenerating the liquid glycol stream 118 from the spent desiccant stream 136, as discussed further herein.

From the contactor 106, the spent desiccant stream 136 may be flowed into a regenerator 138. Specifically, the spent desiccant stream 136 can be flowed through a tube bundle 140 in the top of a distillation column 142 of the regenerator 138. High-temperature water vapor and off-gases 148 being released from the distillation column 142 may preheat the spent desiccant stream 136 as it flows through the tube bundle 140, before the water vapor and off-gases 148 are released via an overhead line 150.

In various embodiments, the regenerator 138 may be used to regenerate the liquid glycol stream 118 from the spent desiccant stream 136. The regenerator 138 may be a large pressure vessel, or interconnected series of pressure vessels, that operates at about 15 psig to about 25 psig, for example.

After being preheated within the distillation column 142, the spent desiccant stream 136 may be released from the tube bundle 140 as a warmed glycol stream 152. The warmed glycol stream 152 may be flowed into a flash drum 154. The flash drum 154 may operate at a pressure of about 50 psig to about 100 psig, for example. The flash drum 154 may have internal parts that create a mixing effect or a tortuous flow path for the glycol stream 152.

Residual gases 156, such as methane, H₂S, or CO₂, may be flashed out of the flash drum 154 via an overhead line 158. The residual gases 156 captured in the overhead line 158 may be reduced to an acid gas content of about 100 ppm if contacted with an amine. This concentration of acid gases is small enough that the residual gases 156 can be used as fuel gas for the gas processing system 100.

In addition, any entrained heavier hydrocarbons, such as ethane or propane, within the glycol stream 152 may be captured within the flash drum 154. The resulting hydrocarbon stream 160 may be flowed out of the flash drum 154 via a bottoms line 162.

Further, as the temperature and pressure of the glycol stream 152 drops within the flash drum 154, the hydrocarbons within the glycol stream 152 are separated out, producing a partially-purified glycol stream 164. The partially-purified glycol stream 164 may then be released from the flash drum 154. The partially-purified glycol stream 164 may be flowed through a filter 166, such as a carbon filter, for particle filtration.

The resulting filtered glycol stream 168 may then be flowed through a heat exchanger 170. Within the heat exchanger 170, the filtered glycol stream 168 may be heated via heat exchange with the liquid glycol stream 118. The resulting high-temperature glycol stream 172 may be flowed into the distillation column 142 of the regenerator 138. As the high-temperature glycol stream 172 travels through the distillation column 142, water vapor and off-gases 148, such as H₂S and CO₂, may be removed from the high-temperature glycol stream 172.

The high-temperature glycol stream 172 may be flowed out of the bottom of the distillation column 142 and into a reboiler 174 within the regenerator 138. The reboiler 174 may increase the temperature of the high-temperature glycol stream 172 using heat provided by a heat exchanger 175. In addition, the reboiler 174 may boil off residual water vapor and off-gases 148 from the high-temperature glycol stream 172. The components that are boiled off may travel upward through the distillation column 142 and be removed as the water vapor and off-gases 148 in the overhead line 150.

The regenerator 138 may also include a separate stripping section 176 fed from the liquid pool in the reboiler 174. The stripping section 176 may include packing that promotes further distillation. Any remaining impurities, such as water, H₂S, or CO₂, boil off and join the water vapor and off-gases 148 in the overhead line 150. The high-temperature glycol stream 172 may then be flowed into a surge tank 178, from which it may be released as the liquid glycol stream 118.

The regenerated liquid glycol stream 118 may be pumped out of the surge tank 178 via a pump 180. The pump 180 may increase the pressure of the liquid glycol stream 118 to about 1,500 psig or about 2,500 psig, for example.

The liquid glycol stream 118 may then be flowed through the heat exchanger 170, in which the liquid glycol stream 118 may be partially cooled via heat exchange with the filtered glycol stream 168. In addition, the liquid glycol stream 118 may be flowed through a cooler 182 prior to being returned to the contactor 106. The cooler 182 may cool the liquid glycol stream 118 to ensure that the liquid glycol stream 118 is not flashing when it is returned to the contactor 106. For example, the cooler 182 may chill the liquid glycol stream 118 to about 100° F. or 125° F.

The process flow diagram of FIG. 1 is not intended to indicate that the gas processing system 100 is to include all of the components shown in FIG. 1. Further, any number of additional components may be included within the gas processing system 100, depending on the details of the specific implementation. For example, additional heat may be provided to the reboiler 174 to assist in flashing off the water. Further, the gas processing system 100 may include any suitable types of heaters, chillers, condensers, liquid pumps, gas compressors, blowers, bypass lines, other types of separation and/or fractionation equipment, valves, switches, controllers, and pressure-measuring devices, temperature-measuring devices, level-measuring devices, or flow-measuring devices, among others.

FIG. 1 demonstrates the use of a known contactor 106 in the context of a gas dehydration process. However, the gas processing system 100 is also substantially representative of a sour gas removal operation. In that instance, the liquid glycol stream 118 includes a chemical solvent, such as a primary amine, a secondary amine, or a tertiary amine. The liquid glycol stream 118 may also be an ionic liquid or a blend of a physical solvent with an amine. For purposes of discussion, the liquid glycol stream 118 may be interchangeably referred to herein as an amine, a chemical solvent, or an absorbent liquid.

In some embodiments, a solvent that preferentially removes H₂S molecules over CO₂ molecules may be used. For example, a tertiary amine typically does not effectively absorb CO₂ as quickly as H₂S. Therefore, two separate gas processing systems 100 may be sequentially operated, with one configured to absorb primarily H₂S, and the other configured to absorb primarily CO₂. A separate CO₂ stream that is substantially free of H₂S may also be generated.

Regardless of the application and the solvent used, the disadvantage of gas processing systems that include counter-current flow schemes, such as the gas processing system 100 of FIG. 1, is that comparatively low velocities are required to avoid entrainment of the down-flowing liquid solvent in the natural gas stream 102. Also, relatively long distances are required for disengagement of the liquid droplets from the natural gas stream 102. Depending on the flow rate of the natural gas stream 102, the contactor 106 can be greater than 15 feet in diameter, and more than 100 feet tall. For high-pressure applications, the vessel has thick, metal walls. Consequently, counter-current contactor vessels can be large and very heavy. This is generally undesirable, particularly for offshore oil and gas recovery applications.

In the gas processing system 100 of FIG. 1, the contactor 106 includes a single contacting tower. However, in some applications, more than one contacting tower may be used. In addition, very large contactors may be used for high-volume, high-pressure applications. In the case of low-pressure applications, such as CO₂ removal from flue gas at a power generation plant, it is estimated that a 50 foot by 50 foot duct contactor would be used for a relatively small, 500 megawatt power plant flue gas application. Many hundreds of gallons per minute of solvent would also be flowed through the contactor. Thus, such operations may become very costly.

Further, the internals of the tower 106 can make it susceptible to wave motion in an offshore environment. Therefore, it may be desirable to have a mass transfer process that does not rely on conventional tower internals. For example, it may be desirable to utilize a series of low pressure-drop, small contacting devices to remove CO₂ or H₂S from flash-gas streams.

Embodiments described herein utilize a vertically oriented co-current flow scheme as an alternative to the counter-current flow scheme demonstrated in the contactor 106 of FIG. 1. The vertically oriented co-current flow scheme utilizes one or more vertically oriented co-current contacting systems connected in series within a pipe. A natural gas stream and a liquid solvent may move together, i.e., co-currently, within the vertically oriented co-current contacting systems. In some embodiments, the natural gas stream and the liquid solvent move together generally along the longitudinal axis of the respective vertically oriented co-current contacting system. In general, co-current contactors can operate at much higher fluid velocities than counter-current contactors. As a result, co-current contactors tend to be smaller than counter-current contactors that utilize standard packed or trayed towers.

FIG. 2A is a process flow diagram of a gas processing system 200 that includes a vertically oriented co-current flow scheme. The gas processing system 200 may be an alternative to the gas processing system 100 discussed with respect to FIG. 1. The gas processing system 200 may be used for the removal of H₂S or other acid gas components from a gas stream 202. In addition, in some embodiments, the gas processing system 200 may be used for the removal of water or other impurities from the gas stream 202.

The gas processing system 200 may employ a number of vertically oriented co-current contacting systems 204A-F. In some embodiments, each vertically oriented co-current contacting system 204A-F includes vertically oriented co-current contactor upstream of a separation system. In other embodiments, each vertically oriented co-current contacting system 204A-F includes a number of vertically oriented co-current contactors upstream of a single separation system. In both embodiments, the separation system may be either vertically oriented or horizontally oriented, depending on the details of the specific implementation.

The gas stream 202 may be a natural gas stream from a hydrocarbon production operation. For example, the gas stream 202 may be a flue gas stream from a power plant, or a synthesis gas (syn-gas) stream. If the natural gas stream 202 is a syn-gas stream, the gas stream 202 may be cooled and filtered before being introduced into the gas processing system 200. The gas stream 202 may also be a flash gas stream taken from a flash drum in a gas processing system itself. In addition, the gas stream 202 may be a tail gas stream from a Claus sulfur recovery process or an impurities stream from a regenerator. Furthermore, the gas stream 202 may be an exhaust emission from a cement plant or other industrial plant. In this instance, CO₂ may be absorbed from excess air or from a nitrogen-containing flue gas.

The gas stream 202 may include a non-absorbing gas, such as methane, and one or more impurities, such as an acid gas. For example, the gas stream 202 may include CO₂ or H₂S. The gas processing system 200 may convert the gas stream 202 into a sweetened gas stream 206 by removing the acid gases.

In operation, the gas stream 202 may be flowed into a first vertically oriented co-current contacting system 204A, where it is mixed with a solvent stream 208. If the gas processing system 200 is to be used for the removal of H₂S, or other sulfur compounds, the solvent stream 208 may include an amine solution, such as monoethanol amine (MEA), diethanol amine (DEA), or methyldiethanol amine (MDEA). Other solvents, such as physical solvents, alkaline salts solutions, or ionic liquids, may also be used for H₂S removal. In embodiments used for other purposes, such as dehydration or reactions, other solvents or reactants, such as glycols, may be used. The solvent stream 208 may include a lean solvent that has undergone a desorption process for the removal of acid gas impurities. For example, in the gas processing system 200 shown in FIG. 2A, the solvent stream 208 introduced into the first vertically oriented co-current contacting system 204A includes a semi-lean solvent that is taken from a central portion of a regenerator 210. A lean solvent stream 212 taken from the regenerator 210 may also be directed into a final vertically oriented co-current contacting system 204F.

In various embodiments, the gas processing system 200 employs a series of vertically oriented co-current contacting systems 204A-F. Each vertically oriented co-current contacting system 204A-F removes a portion of the acid gas content from the natural gas stream 202, thereby releasing a progressively sweetened natural gas stream in a downstream direction. The final vertically oriented co-current contacting system 204F provides the final sweetened natural gas stream 206.

Before entering the first vertically oriented co-current contacting system 204A, the natural gas stream 202 may pass through an inlet separator 214. The inlet separator 214 may be used to clean the natural gas stream 202 by filtering out impurities, such as brine and drilling fluids. Some particle filtration may also take place. The cleaning of the natural gas stream 202 can prevent foaming of solvent during the acid gas treatment process.

As shown in FIG. 2A, the solvent stream 208 is flowed into the first vertically oriented co-current contacting system 204A. Movement of the semi-lean solvent stream 208 into the first vertically oriented co-current contacting system 204A may be aided by a pump 216. The pump 216 may cause the semi-lean solvent stream 208 to flow into the first vertically oriented co-current contacting system 204A at a suitable pressure, for example, of about 15 psig to about 1,500 psig.

Once inside the first vertically oriented co-current contacting system 204A, the natural gas stream 202 and the solvent stream 208 move along the longitudinal axis of the first vertically oriented co-current contacting system 204A. As they travel, the solvent stream 208 interacts with the H₂S, H₂O, and/or other impurities in the natural gas stream 202, causing the H₂S, H₂O, and/or other impurities to chemically attach to or be absorbed by the amine molecules. A first partially-loaded, or “rich,” gas treating solution 218A may be flowed out of the first vertically oriented co-current contacting system 204A. In addition, a first partially-sweetened natural gas stream 220A may be flowed out of a bottom portion of the first vertically oriented co-current contacting system 204A and into a second vertically oriented co-current contacting system 204B.

As shown in the example illustrated in FIG. 2A, a third vertically oriented co-current contacting system 204C may be provided after the second vertically oriented co-current contacting system 204B, and a fourth vertically oriented co-current contacting system 204D may be provided after the third vertically oriented co-current contacting system 204C. In addition, a fifth vertically oriented co-current contacting system 204E may be provided after the fourth vertically oriented co-current contacting system 204D, and a final vertically oriented co-current contacting system 204F may be provided after the fifth vertically oriented co-current contacting system 204E. Each of the second, third, fourth, and fifth vertically oriented co-current contacting systems 204B, 204C, 204D, and 204E may generate a respective partially-sweetened natural gas stream 220B, 220C, 220D, and 220E. In addition, each of the second, third, fourth, fifth, and final vertically oriented co-current contacting systems 204B, 204C, 204D, 204E, and 204F may generate respective partially-loaded gas treating solution 218B, 218C, 218D, 218E, and 218F. If an amine is used as the solvent stream 208, the partially-loaded gas treating solutions 218A-F may include rich amine solutions. In the gas processing system 200, the second loaded gas treating solution 218B merges with the rich gas treating solution 218A and goes through a regeneration process in the regenerator 210.

As the progressively-sweetened natural gas streams 220A-E are generated, the gas pressure in the gas processing system 200 will gradually decrease. As this occurs, the liquid pressure of the progressively-richer gas treating solutions 218A-F may be correspondingly increased. This may be accomplished by placing one or more booster pumps (not shown) between each vertically oriented co-current contacting system 204A-F to boost liquid pressure in the gas processing system 200.

In the gas processing system 200, solvent streams may be regenerated by flowing the partially-loaded gas treating solutions 218A and 218B through a flash drum 221. Absorbed natural gas 222 may be flashed from the partially-loaded gas treating solutions 218A and 218B within the flash drum 221, and may be flowed out of the flash drum 221 via an overhead line 224.

The resulting rich solvent stream 226 may be flowed from the flash drum 221 to the regenerator 210. The rich solvent stream 226 may be introduced into the regenerator 210 for desorption. The regenerator 210 may include a stripper portion 228 including trays or other internals (not shown). The stripper portion 228 may be located directly above a reboiler portion 230. A heat source 232 may be provided with the reboiler 230 to generate heat. The regenerator 210 produces the regenerated, lean solvent stream 212 that is recycled for re-use in the final vertically oriented co-current contacting system 204F. Stripped overhead gas from the regenerator 210, which may include concentrated H₂S (or CO₂), may be flowed out of the regenerator 210 as an overhead impurities stream 234.

The overhead impurities stream 234 may be flowed into a condenser 236, which may cool the overhead impurities stream 234. The resulting cooled impurities stream 238 may be flowed through a reflux accumulator 240. The reflux accumulator 240 may separate any remaining liquid, such as condensed water, from the impurities stream 238. This may result in the generation of a substantially pure acid gas stream 242, which may be flowed out of the reflux accumulator 240 via an overhead line 244.

In some embodiments, if the initial natural gas stream 202 includes CO₂, and a CO₂-selective solvent stream 208 is used, the acid gas stream 242 includes primarily CO₂. The CO₂-rich acid gas stream 242 may be used as part of a miscible EOR operation to recover oil. If the oil reservoir to be flooded does not contain a significant amount of H₂S or other sulfur compounds, the CO₂ to be used for the EOR operation may not contain significant H₂S or other sulfur compounds. However, concentrated CO₂ streams from oil and gas production operations may be contaminated with small amounts of H₂S. Thus, it may be desirable to remove the H₂S from the CO₂, unless the acid gas stream 202 is to be injected purely for geologic sequestration.

In some embodiments, if the initial natural gas stream 202 includes H₂S, an H₂S-selective solvent stream 208 may be used to capture the H₂S. The H₂S may then be converted into elemental sulfur using a sulfur recovery unit (not shown). The sulfur recovery unit may be a so-called Claus unit. Those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that a “Claus process” is a process that is sometimes used by the natural gas and refinery industries to recover elemental sulfur from H₂S-containing gas streams.

In practice, the “tail gas” from the Claus process, which may include H₂S, SO₂, CO₂, N₂, and water vapor, can be reacted to convert the SO₂ to H₂S via hydrogenation. The hydrogenated tail gas stream has a high partial pressure, a large amount of CO₂, e.g., more than 50%, and a small amount of H₂S, e.g., a few percent or less. This type of gas stream, which is typically near atmospheric pressure, is amenable to selective H₂S removal. The recovered H₂S may be recycled to the front of the Claus unit, or may be sequestered downstream. Alternatively, a direct oxidation of the H₂S to elemental sulfur may be performed using various processes known in the field of gas separation.

Because the H₂S reaction is instantaneous relative to the CO₂ reactions, lowering the residence time, i.e., the contact time between the vapor and liquid phases, will result in less CO₂ being absorbed into the solvent. The design of the vertically oriented co-current contacting systems 204A-F enhances selective H₂S removal due to the short contact time inherent in the equipment design.

As shown in FIG. 2A, a residual liquid stream 246 may be flowed out of the bottom of the reflux accumulator 240. The residual liquid stream 246 may be flowed through a reflux pump 248, which may boost the pressure of the residual liquid stream 246 and pump the residual liquid stream 246 into the regenerator 210. The residual liquid stream 246 may be flowed out of the regenerator 210, for example, from the bottom of the reboiler portion 230 as part of the lean solvent stream 212. Some water may be added to the lean solvent stream 212 to balance the loss of water vapor to the partially sweetened natural gas streams 220A-E. This water may be added at an intake or suction of the reflux pump 248.

The lean solvent stream 212 may be at a low pressure. Accordingly, the lean solvent stream 212 may be passed through a pressure boosting pump 250. From the pressure boosting pump 250, the lean solvent stream 212 may be flowed through a cooler 254. The cooler 254 may cool the lean solvent stream 212 to ensure that the lean solvent stream 212 will absorb acid gases effectively. The resulting chilled lean solvent stream 256 is then used as the solvent stream for the final vertically oriented co-current contacting system 204F.

In some embodiments, a solvent tank 258 is provided proximate the final vertically oriented co-current contacting system 204F. The chilled lean solvent stream 256 may be flowed from the solvent tank 258. In other embodiments, the solvent tank 258 is off-line and provides a reservoir for the lean solvent stream 256.

The process flow diagram of FIG. 2A is not intended to indicate that the gas processing system 200 is to include all of the components shown in FIG. 2A. Further, any number of additional components may be included within the gas processing system 200, depending on the details of the specific implementation. For example, the gas processing system 200 may include any suitable types of heaters, chillers, condensers, liquid pumps, gas compressors, blowers, bypass lines, other types of separation and/or fractionation equipment, valves, switches, controllers, and pressure-measuring devices, temperature-measuring devices, level-measuring devices, or flow-measuring devices, among others.

FIG. 2B is a process flow diagram of another gas processing system 260 that includes a vertically oriented co-current flow scheme. Like numbered items are as described with respect to FIG. 2A. Operation of the gas processing system 260 of FIG. 2B is similar to that of the gas processing system 200 of FIG. 2A. However, in the gas processing system 260, the first vertically oriented co-current contacting system 204A receives the partially-loaded gas treating solution 218B from the second vertically oriented co-current contacting system 204B. Therefore, the gas processing system 260 does not include the semi-lean solvent stream 208. In this example, the series of vertically oriented co-current contacting systems 204A-F acts like a separation column, for example, wherein each stage corresponds to a packed stage.

Because the partially-loaded gas treating solution 218B received by the first vertically oriented co-current contacting system 204A in FIG. 2B has already been processed through the second vertically oriented co-current contacting system 204B, the partially-loaded gas treating solution 218B may be very rich. For this reason, it may be desirable to provide some level of intermediate processing of the partially-loaded gas treating solution 218B.

Alternatively, a semi-lean liquid stream could be taken from other sweetening operations in the gas processing system 260 and used, at least in part, as an amine solution for the first or second vertically oriented co-current contacting system 204A or 204B. In this respect, there are situations in which a single type of solvent is used for more than one service in the gas processing system 260. This is referred to as integrated gas treatment. For example, MDEA may be used both for high-pressure, H₂S-selective acid gas removal, as well as in a Claus tail gas treating (TGT) process. The rich amine stream from the TGT process is not heavily loaded with H₂S and CO₂, owing to the low pressure of the process. Thus, in some embodiments, the rich amine stream from the TGT process is used as a semi-lean stream for the first or second vertically oriented co-current contacting system 204A or 204B. The semi-lean stream (not shown) may be pumped to a suitable pressure and injected into the first or second vertically oriented co-current contacting system 204A or 204B, possibly along with the partially-loaded gas treating solution from the succeeding vertically oriented co-current contacting system.

Further, in the gas processing system 260 of FIG. 2B, the first partially-loaded solvent solution 218A is flowed through a heat exchanger 262 after being flowed through the flash drum 221. Within the heat exchanger 262, the temperature of the first partially-loaded solvent solution 218A is increased via heat exchange with the lean solvent 212 taken from the regenerator 210. This serves to heat the first partially-loaded solvent solution 218A before introduction into the regenerator 210, while cooling the lean solvent stream 212.

The process flow diagram of FIG. 2B is not intended to indicate that the gas processing system 260 is to include all of the components shown in FIG. 2B. Further, any number of additional components may be included within the gas processing system 260, depending on the details of the specific implementation.

FIG. 3 is a schematic of a column 300 for separating a feed stream 302 into a gas stream 304 and a liquid stream 306. The feed stream 302 may be a gas stream that includes two or more different components with different boiling points and vapor pressures, such as a solvent and a gas contaminant. The column 300 may be similar to the columns used in the regenerators 138 and 210 discussed with respect to FIGS. 1, 2A, and 2B.

The column 300 may include a number of trays 308 or other internals that create indirect flow paths for the feed stream 302 and create interfacial area between the gas and liquid phases 136.

The feed stream 302 may be injected into a lower or middle portion of the column 300, between trays 308. The gas within the feed stream 302 moves upward through the column 300. At the same time, any liquid within the column 300 moves downward and across the succession of trays 308 in the column 300. In addition, the liquid may include a reflux stream 310 that is re-injected into the top portion of the column 300, as discussed further herein.

The column 300 may utilize a variety of separation technologies, depending on the species in the feed stream 302. For example, the column may be a distillation column, a countercurrent separation column, or a regeneration column, among others.

For a distillation column, the feed stream 302 may include a mixture of liquids with slightly different boiling points. In this case, the column 300 is a distillation column that functions to separate the species by the differences in boiling point. The trays 308 determine the number of theoretical plates, and, thus, the separation efficiency of the column 300.

In a countercurrent column, the feed stream 302 may include a mixture of gases, such as methane and H₂O or H₂S. As the gases flow upwards through the falling stream of liquid, one gas species is preferentially absorbed by the liquid, lowering its concentration in the gas rising to the top of the column 300. In some embodiments, the liquid includes a solvent (not shown) that is injected into a top portion of the column 300. More specifically, the liquid and vapor phases may be counter-currently contacted to effect separation of a fluid mixture based on chemical affinities, boiling point difference, or vapor pressure differences, or combinations thereof.

In a regeneration column, the feed stream includes a liquid that contains a dissolved or adsorbed gas. As the liquid falls through the column 300, the gas is released and exits through the top of the column 300.

The component that concentrates in the gas phase may be flowed out of the top of the column 300 as an overhead gas stream 312, while the component that concentrates in the liquid phase may be flowed out of the bottom of the column 300 as a bottoms liquid stream 314. In addition, some amount of liquid 316 may be allowed to collect in the bottom of the column 300 before being flowed out of the column 300 in order to provide for increased separation of the gas phase from the liquid phase.

The bottoms liquid stream 314 may be flowed through a reboiler 318. The reboiler 318 may increase the temperature of the bottoms liquid stream 314, vaporizing a portion of the bottoms liquid stream 314, which may include components in the liquid, or a portion of the liquid itself. The resulting stream 320 may be flowed back into the bottom portion of the column 300 to provide heat to the liquids 316 collecting in the bottom of the column 300.

A portion of the overhead gas stream 312 may be cooled and at least partially condensed within a heat exchanger 322. The cooled gas stream 324 may then be separated into the gas stream 304 and a liquid stream 326 within a separation column 328. The liquid stream 326 may be pumped back into the top portion of the column 300 as the reflux stream 310. Within the column 300, the reflux stream 310 may be used to enhance the performance of the column 300 by increasing the degree of separation between the liquid phase and the gas phase.

In practice, the column 300 may be very large and heavy. This may create difficulty in many applications, such as offshore oil and gas production applications. Therefore, the vertically oriented co-current contacting system described herein may provide a desirable alternative to the column 300.

FIG. 4A is a process flow diagram of a separation system 400 including a number of vertically oriented co-current contacting systems 402A-C that may be placed in a shell 403. In this embodiment, the separation system 400 may be analogous to a separation column, for example, as discussed with respect to FIG. 3, in which each of the vertically oriented co-current contacting systems 402A-C are acting as bed packing. In some embodiments, the shell 403 is a permanent, climate-controlled structure. In other embodiments, the shell 403 is a temporary or portable structure. In other embodiments, the shell 403 is an insulated jacket. The separation system 400 may be implemented as part of a gas processing system, such as the gas processing system 200 or 260 discussed with respect to FIG. 2A or 2B. The gas processing system may utilize a number of vertically oriented co-current contacting systems 402A-C connected in series, such as the vertically oriented co-current contacting systems 204A-F discussed with respect to FIGS. 2A and 2B. In the illustrative arrangement shown in FIG. 4A, a first vertically oriented co-current contacting system 402A, a second vertically oriented co-current contacting system 402B, and a third vertically oriented co-current contacting system 402C are provided, each residing within the single shell 403.

In various embodiments, due to the pump requirements on the liquid streams, the inter-stage liquid streams may be flowed through the shell 403. The shell 403 may be designed to keep the equipment and the solvent solutions flowing therein cool. This may be done through climate control within the shell 403 or through the circulation of a cooling medium adjacent to the shell 403.

A first gas stream 404 may be flowed into the first vertically oriented co-current contacting system 402A. The first vertically oriented co-current contacting system 402A may generate a first partially purified gas stream 406A, which may be flowed from the first vertically oriented co-current contacting system 402A to the second vertically oriented co-current contacting system 402B. The second vertically oriented co-current contacting system 402B may then generate a second partially purified gas stream 406B, which may be flowed from the second vertically oriented co-current contacting system 402B to the third vertically oriented co-current contacting system 402C. In some embodiments, the third vertically oriented co-current contacting system 402C generates a final purified gas stream 408.

Each of the first, second, and third vertically oriented co-current contacting systems 402A-C also generates a respective rich gas treating solutions 410A, 410B, and 410C. The third rich gas treating solution 410C may be directed back to the second vertically oriented co-current contacting system 402B as a liquid solvent, and the second rich gas treating solution 410B may be directed back to the first vertically oriented co-current contacting system 402A. In addition, the third vertically oriented co-current contacting system 402C may receive a gas treating solution 410D from another source. In various embodiments, the gas treating solution 410D received by the third vertically oriented co-current contacting system 402C is a lean or semi-lean liquid solvent. Further, the first rich gas treating solution 410A may be returned to a regenerator (not shown), such as the regenerator 210 discussed with respect to FIGS. 2A and 2B, or may serve as a liquid solvent for a preceding co-current contacting system (not shown).

The number of vertically oriented co-current contacting systems is not limited to that shown. Further, the interconnections do not have to be arranged as shown. In other applications, the vertically oriented co-current contacting systems 402A-C may be used as reactors, for example, by including a reactant in the first gas stream 404, and injecting a second reactant in the respective rich gas treating solutions 410A, 410B, and 410C.

FIG. 4B is a process flow diagram of the separation system 400 of FIG. 4A including the vertically oriented co-current contacting systems 402A, 402B, and 402C with the addition of a number of heat exchangers 412A and 412B. The heat exchangers 412A and 412B may be used to cool the gas treating solutions 410B and 410C. In some embodiments, the heat exchangers 412A and 412B are used as an alternative to the use of the shell 403.

FIG. 5 is a process flow diagram of a number of vertically oriented co-current contacting systems 500A-C that operate in connection with one or more flash drums 502. The vertically oriented co-current contacting systems 500A-C may be implemented as part of a gas processing system, such as the gas processing systems 200 or 260 discussed with respect to FIG. 2A or 2B. The vertically oriented co-current contacting systems 500A-C may be connected in series, similarly to the vertically oriented co-current contacting systems 204A-F discussed with respect to FIGS. 2A and 2B. In the illustrative arrangement shown in FIG. 5, a first vertically oriented co-current contacting system 500A, a second vertically oriented co-current contacting system 500B, and a third vertically oriented co-current contacting system 500C are provided.

A first gas stream 504 may be flowed into the first vertically oriented co-current contacting system 500A. The first vertically oriented co-current contacting system 500A may generate a first partially purified gas stream 506A, which may be flowed from the first vertically oriented co-current contacting system 500A to the second vertically oriented co-current contacting system 500B. The second vertically oriented co-current contacting system 500B may then generate a second partially purified gas stream 506B, which may be flowed from the second vertically oriented co-current contacting system 500B to the third vertically oriented co-current contacting system 500C. In some embodiments, the third vertically oriented co-current contacting system 500C generates a final purified gas stream 508.

Each of the first, second, and third vertically oriented co-current contacting systems 500A, 500B, and 500C also generates a respective rich gas treating solution 510A, 510B, and 510C. The third rich gas treating solution 510C may be directed back to the second vertically oriented co-current contacting system 500B as a liquid solvent, and the second rich gas treating solution 510B may be directed back to the first vertically oriented co-current contacting system 510A as a liquid solvent. In addition, the third vertically oriented co-current contacting system 500C may receive a gas treating solution 510D from another source. In various embodiments, the gas treating solution 510D received by the third vertically oriented co-current contacting system 500C is a lean or semi-lean liquid solvent. Further, the first rich gas treating solution 510A may be returned to a regenerator (not shown), such as the regenerator 210 discussed with respect to FIGS. 2A and 2B, or may serve as a liquid solvent for a preceding co-current contacting system (not shown).

As shown in FIG. 5, the second rich gas treating solution 510B may be flowed through the flash drum 502. A flash line 512 may be provided coming off the top of the flash drum 502. The flash drum 502 and associated flash line 512 may permit methane and any CO₂ absorbed in the second rich gas treating solution 510B to be flashed out before the second rich gas treating solution 510B is flowed into the first vertically oriented co-current contacting system 500A. H₂O in vapor form may also be vented from the flash line 512. In various embodiments, flashing the second rich gas treating solution 510B creates a semi-lean solvent solution. The use of a semi-lean solvent solution in the first vertically oriented co-current contacting system 500A may improve the efficiency of the first vertically oriented co-current contacting system 500A and reduce the load on the regenerator. Further, in some embodiments, any of the other gas treating solutions 510A, 510C, or 510D may also be flowed through a flash drum that is similar to the flash drum 502.

In some embodiments, gas, e.g., methane, CO₂, and H₂O, flashing out of the flash line 512 is merged with gas flashing out of flash lines associated with any number of other flash drums within the gas processing system. For example, for the gas processing system 200 discussed with respect to FIG. 2A, the gas flashing out of the flash line 512 may be merged with the natural gas 222 flashing out of the flash drum 221. The pressure of the gas flashing out of the flash line 512 may correspond to the pressure of the natural gas 222 flashing out of the flash drum 221.

As shown in FIG. 5, the second gas treating solution 510B may also be flowed through a pump 514 after it exits the flash drum 502. The pump 514 may increase the pressure of the second gas treating solution 510B, which may help to overcome the effect of the pressure drop that occurs within the vertically oriented co-current contacting systems 500A-C. Increasing the pressure of the second gas treating solution 510B may also allow the second gas treating solution 510B to more effectively entrain the acid gases within the gas stream 504.

The use of multiple vertically oriented co-current contacting systems in series has been described herein in connection with the removal of acid gases from a gas stream. For example, FIGS. 2A and 2B show applications wherein the concentration of H₂S (or any other type of acid gas) within the gas stream is sequentially lowered through the use of a number of vertically oriented co-current contacting systems. However, the gas processing systems 200 and 260, as well any other type of gas processing system that includes a number of vertically oriented co-current contacting systems connected in series, may also be used for a variety of other applications. For example, in some embodiments, the vertically oriented co-current contacting systems described herein are used for the dehydration of natural gas. Raw natural gas is often saturated with water. The water is typically removed to avoid the formation of natural gas hydrates and to prevent corrosion in pipelines.

In known operations, dehydration is commonly accomplished by contacting the wet gas stream with a glycol solvent. The glycol solvent is typically triethylene glycol (TEG). Contacting takes place in a trayed tower or a packed absorber. In operation, lean TEG, e.g., TEG that is substantially free of water, enters the top of the contactor, while the wet gas enters near the bottom of the tower. The two fluid streams flow counter-currently through the column. The downward-flowing TEG absorbs water from the upward-flowing natural gas. The natural gas exits the top of the column substantially dry, while the rich TEG exits the bottom of the column, containing the absorbed water.

One or more vertically oriented co-current contacting systems, such as the vertically oriented co-current contacting systems discussed with respect to FIGS. 2A, 2B, 4A, 4B, and 5, may be used in place of the trayed tower or packed absorber for rapidly contacting a desiccant with wet gas. In addition, higher pressure drops may be used to disperse the liquid solvent in the vapor phase and improve the efficiency of the vertically oriented co-current contacting systems.

FIG. 6 is a process flow diagram of a gas regeneration facility 600 including a number of vertically oriented co-current contacting systems 602A-C. The vertically oriented co-current contacting systems 602A-C may be used for the removal of acid gas 604 from a rich solvent solution 606. The rich solvent solution 606 may be warm due to the exothermic chemical reaction involved in an earlier CO₂ or H₂S removal process, as well as possible pre-heating with an outside source.

As shown in FIG. 6, a stripping gas 608 may be flowed into a first vertically oriented co-current contacting system 602A. In addition, a first partially-unloaded, or “lean,” solvent stream 610A may be heated within a first heat exchanger 612 and then flowed into the first vertically oriented co-current contacting system 602A. Once inside the first vertically oriented co-current contacting system 602A, the stripping gas 608 and the first partially-unloaded solvent stream 610A move along the longitudinal axis of the first vertically oriented co-current contacting system 602A. As they travel, the first partially-unloaded solvent stream 610A interacts with the stripping gas 608, causing any remaining acid gas within the first partially-unloaded solvent stream 610A to chemically attach to or be absorbed by the amine molecules of the stripping gas 608. The resulting lean solvent stream 614 may then be flowed out of the gas regeneration facility 600. In some embodiments, the lean solvent solution 614 is introduced into a vertically oriented co-current contacting system of a gas processing system, such as the gas processing system 200 or 260 of FIG. 2A or 2B. Further, in some embodiments, a portion of the lean solvent solution 614 is boiled to generate the stripping gas 608.

A first gas mixture 616A including the stripping gas and a portion of the acid gas may be flowed out of a bottom portion of the first vertically oriented co-current contacting system 602A and into a second vertically oriented co-current contacting system 602B. In addition, a second partially-unloaded solvent stream 610B may be heated within a second heat exchanger 618 and then flowed into the second vertically oriented co-current contacting system 602B. Once inside the second vertically oriented co-current contacting system 602B, the first gas mixture 616A and the second partially-unloaded solvent stream 610B move along the longitudinal axis of the second vertically oriented co-current contacting system 602B. As they travel, the second partially-unloaded solvent stream 610B interacts with the first gas mixture 616A, causing a portion of the acid gas within the second partially-unloaded solvent stream 610B to chemically attach to or be absorbed by the amine molecules within the first gas mixture 610A. The resulting first partially-unloaded solvent stream 610A may then be flowed from the second vertically oriented co-current contacting system 602B to the first vertically oriented co-current contacting system 602A.

A second gas mixture 616B including the stripping gas and a larger portion of the acid gas may be flowed out of a bottom portion of the second vertically oriented co-current contacting system 602B and into a third vertically oriented co-current contacting system 602C. In addition, the rich solvent stream 606 may be flowed into the third vertically oriented co-current contacting system 602C. Once inside the third vertically oriented co-current contacting system 602C, the second gas mixture 616B and the rich solvent stream 606 move along the longitudinal axis of the third vertically oriented co-current contacting system 602C. As they travel, the rich solvent stream 606 interacts with the second gas mixture 616B, causing a portion of the acid gas within the rich solvent stream 606 to chemically attach to or be absorbed by the amine molecules within the second gas mixture 616B. The resulting second partially-unloaded solvent stream 610B may then be flowed from the third vertically oriented co-current contacting system 602C to the second vertically oriented co-current contacting system 602B. In addition, the acid gas 604 (and stripping gas) may be flowed out of the gas regeneration facility 600.

In some embodiments, the rich solvent solution 606 may include water instead of acid gas. In such embodiments, the water may be removed from the rich solvent solution 606 using the vertically oriented co-current contacting systems 602A-C.

In various embodiments, a number of vertically oriented co-current contacting systems connected in series are used for the distillation of hydrocarbon mixtures or crude oil into near pure components. In such embodiments, the solvent may be steam or heated kerosene, and the gas phase may be methane and/or ethane. In addition, the hydrocarbon mixture may be heated to facilitate phase separation across the vertically oriented co-current contacting systems.

A number of vertically oriented co-current contacting systems connected in series may also be used for flash gas conditioning. In high-pressure gas purification processes, e.g. acid gas removal processes and dehydration processes, the rich solvent is often flashed into a vessel at a pressure in the range of 100 psig to 150 psig, for example. This flash stage releases much of the physically absorbed methane, but also releases some of the absorbed contaminants, such as H₂S, CO₂, and water vapor. To meet fuel gas specifications, this stream is often re-contacted with a small slip-stream of lean solvent.

To remove impurities from the gas, a number of vertically oriented co-current contacting systems connected in series may be employed as absorbers. Only two or three stages may be used to remove the impurities, as the H₂S specification for flash gas is generally not as stringent as that for pipeline gas. The flash gas may be used as fuel gas within a gas processing system, such as the gas processing system 200 or 260 of FIG. 2A or 2B, instead of being sold commercially.

In some embodiments, the gas stream represents gas from a catalytic hydro-desulfurization process (CHDS). In oil refineries, CHDS is sometimes used to convert mercaptans, sulfides, thiophenes, and other sulfur-containing compounds to H₂S. As an incidental byproduct of the CHDS, light hydrocarbons may be produced. It is possible to treat this gas to remove the H₂S, and then use the treated gas as fuel, for example. Such treatment may be accomplished using a series of vertically oriented co-current contacting systems, such as the vertically oriented co-current contacting systems discussed with respect to FIGS. 2A, 2B, 4A, 4B, 5, and 6.

A number of techniques have been demonstrated herein for sequentially removing acid gases from a raw gas stream by using two or more vertically oriented co-current contacting systems connected in series. Some of the techniques described herein involve the removal of acid gases, either partially or completely, and either selectively or non-selectively, from hydrocarbon gas streams. The gas stream may be a natural gas stream, a combustion exhaust gas stream, or a refining gas stream, for example. The absorbent liquid may include an absorption solution including at least one chemical compound such as monoethanolamine (MEA), diglycolamine (DGA), diethanolamine (DEA), methyldiethanolamine (MDEA), 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol (AMP), piperazine (PZ), ammonia, amines, alkanolamines, their derivatives, and other chemical solvents and/or mixtures thereof. The absorbent liquid may also include at least one chemical component such as kinetic enhancers, corrosion inhibitors, anti-foam chemicals, oxygen scavengers, salts, neutralizers, anti-fouling chemicals, and anti-degradation chemicals.

The absorbent liquid may include at least one chemical component selected for absorbing, assimilating, or otherwise reacting with a gas, such as CO₂, H₂S, SO₂, and NO_(x). Alternatively, the absorbent liquid may include a desiccating liquid including at least one chemical compound such as monoethylene glycol (MEG), diethylene glycol (DEG), or triethylene glycol (TEG).

Co-Current Contacting System

FIG. 7A is a process flow diagram of a vertically oriented co-current contacting system 700 including a vertically oriented co-current contactor 702 and a vertically oriented separation system 704. The co-current contacting system 700 may be used as any of the units labeled “CCCS” in FIG. 2, 4, 5, or 6. As shown in FIG. 7A, the vertically oriented co-current contactor 702 includes a vertically oriented mixer 706 and a vertically oriented mass transfer section 708. In various embodiments, a gas stream 710, such as a natural gas stream, and a gas treating solution 712, such as a lean or semi-lean solvent solution, are injected into the vertically oriented mixer 706. As the gas stream 710 and the gas treating solution 712 are flowed downwards through the vertically oriented mixer 706 and the vertically oriented mass transfer section 708, the gas stream 710 is contacted with the gas treating solution 712. As a result, liquid droplets formed from the gas treating solution 712 are incorporated into the gas stream 710. In addition, in various embodiments, impurities from the gas stream 710 are incorporated into the liquid droplets formed from the gas treating solution 712.

The gas stream 710 with the incorporated liquid droplets is then flowed downwards into the vertically oriented separation system 704. Within the vertically oriented separation system 704, the liquid droplets including the impurities are separated from the gas stream 710, resulting in the generation of a purified gas stream 714 and a rich gas treating solution 716.

In various embodiments, vertical orientation of the mixer 706 and the mass transfer section 708 of the vertically oriented co-current contacting system 700 reduces the influence of gravity on the liquid droplets that have been incorporated into the gas stream 710. Therefore, the fraction of liquid flowing on the walls of the piping is reduced, and the liquid droplet sizes are reduced through the vertically oriented mass transfer section 708 due to less coalescence of the liquid droplets. This may increase the area of the vertically oriented mass transfer section 708 that is available for incorporation of the liquid droplets into the gas stream 710 and, thus, increase the degree of separation of impurities from the gas stream 710. In addition, vertical orientation of the mixer 706, the mass transfer section 708, and the separation system 704 of the vertically oriented co-current contacting system 700 reduces the footprint of the vertically oriented co-current contracting system 700, particularly in the case of off-shore applications, by making the vertically oriented co-current contacting system 700 more compact. Furthermore, vertical orientation of the mixer 706, the mass transfer section 708, and the separation system 704 of the vertically oriented co-current contacting system 700 may allow the system to be conformed to a wide variety of limited space configurations.

FIG. 7B is a process flow diagram of the vertically oriented co-current contacting system 700 of FIG. 7A including the vertically oriented co-current contactor 702 and a horizontally oriented separation system 718. Like numbered items are as described with respect to FIG. 7A. According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 7B, the gas stream 710 with the incorporated liquid droplets is flowed into the horizontally oriented separation system 718 via a line 720 including an angle, such as a 90° bend. In some embodiments, the horizontally oriented separation system 718 is included within the vertically oriented co-current contacting system 700 rather than the vertically oriented separation system 704 to allow the vertically oriented co-current contacting system 700 to conform to specific limited space configurations.

FIG. 7C is a process flow diagram of the vertically oriented co-current contacting system 700 of FIG. 7A including a number of vertically oriented co-current contactors 702 and 703 connected in series upstream of the vertically oriented separation system 704. Like numbered items are as described with respect to FIG. 7A. According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 7C, the vertically oriented co-current contacting system 700 includes two vertically oriented co-current contactors 702 and 703 upstream of a single separation system 704. The separation system 704 may be either vertically or horizontally oriented, depending on the details of the specific implementation. Moreover, while only two vertically oriented co-current contactors 702 and 703 are shown in FIG. 7C, it is to be understood that the vertically oriented co-current contacting system 700 may include any number of additional vertically oriented co-current contactors, depending on the details of the specific implementation. In various embodiments, the presence of two or more vertically oriented co-current contactors 702 and 703 within the vertically oriented co-current contacting system 700 increases the area that is available for incorporation of the liquid droplets into the gas stream 710 and, thus, increases the degree of separation of impurities from the gas stream 710.

In some embodiments, different gas treating solutions 712A and 712B may be injected into each vertically oriented co-current contactor 702 and 703. For example, the gas treating solution 712A that is injected into the vertically oriented mixer 706A of the first vertically oriented co-current contactor 702 may be a semi-lean solvent stream, while the gas treating solution 712B that is injected into the vertically oriented mixer 706B of the second vertically oriented co-current contactor 703 may be a lean solvent stream. The injection of a fresh or lean solvent stream into the second vertically oriented co-current contactor 703 may reduce the concentration of the impurities within the vertically oriented co-current contacting system 700 and increase the driving force for the incorporation of the liquid droplets into the gas stream 710. Therefore, the degree of separation of the impurities from the gas stream 710 may be increased.

The process flow diagrams of FIGS. 7A, 7B, and 7C are not intended to indicate that the vertically oriented co-current contacting system 700 is to include all of the components shown in FIGS. 7A, 7B, and 7C. Further, the vertically oriented co-current contacting system 700 may include any number of additional components not shown in FIG. 7A, 7B, or 7C, depending on the details of the specific implementation. For example, in some embodiments, the mixer 706 or the mass transfer section 708, 708A, 708B may be horizontally oriented rather than vertically oriented. The orientation of each component of the vertically oriented co-current contacting system 700 may be chosen for each implementation based on the amount of incorporation of the liquid droplets into the gas stream 710 that is desired, as well as the specific dimensions of the space in which the vertically oriented co-current contacting system 700 is to be placed.

FIG. 8 is a process flow diagram of a vertically oriented co-current contacting system 800 including a number of vertically oriented co-current contactors 801, 802, and 803 and a vertically oriented separation system 804 that may be used to purify a natural gas stream 806. Each vertically oriented co-current contactor 801, 802, and 803 includes a vertically oriented mixer 808A-C and a vertically oriented mass transfer section 810A-C.

In various embodiments, the natural gas stream 806 and a semi-lean solvent stream 812 are injected into the vertically oriented mixer 808A of the first vertically oriented co-current contactor 801. As the natural gas stream 806 and the semi-lean solvent stream 812 are flowed downwards through the vertically oriented mixer 808A and the vertically oriented mass transfer section 810A of the first vertically oriented co-current contactor 801, the natural gas stream 806 is contacted with the semi-lean solvent stream 812. As a result, liquid droplets formed from the semi-lean solvent stream 812 are incorporated into the natural gas stream 806. In addition, impurities from the natural gas stream 806 are incorporated into the liquid droplets formed from the semi-lean solvent stream 812.

From the first vertically oriented co-current contacting system 801, the natural gas stream 806 with the incorporated liquid droplets is flowed downwards into the vertically oriented mixer 808B of the second vertically oriented co-current contactor 802. In addition, a lean solvent stream 814 is injected into the vertically oriented mixer 808B of the second vertically oriented co-current contactor 802. As the natural gas stream 806 including the incorporated liquid droplets and the lean solvent stream 814 are flowed downwards through the vertically oriented mixer 808B and the vertically oriented mass transfer section 810B of the second vertically oriented co-current contactor 802, the natural gas stream 806 including the incorporated liquid droplets is contacted with the lean solvent stream 814. As a result, additional liquid droplets formed from the lean solvent stream 814 are incorporated into the natural gas stream 806. The liquid droplets formed from the lean solvent stream 814 may include additional impurities from the natural gas stream 806.

From the second vertically oriented co-current contacting system 802, the natural gas stream 806 with the incorporated liquid droplets is flowed downwards into the vertically oriented mixer 808C of the third vertically oriented co-current contactor 803. In addition, another lean solvent stream 816 is injected into the vertically oriented mixer 808C of the third vertically oriented co-current contactor 803. As the natural gas stream 806 including the incorporated liquid droplets and the lean solvent stream 816 are flowed downwards through the vertically oriented mixer 808C and the vertically oriented mass transfer section 810C of the third vertically oriented co-current contactor 803, the natural gas stream 806 including the incorporated liquid droplets is contacted with the lean solvent stream 816. As a result, additional liquid droplets formed from the lean solvent stream 816 are incorporated into the natural gas stream 806. The liquid droplets formed from the lean solvent stream 816 may include residual impurities from the natural gas stream 806.

The natural gas stream 806 with the incorporated liquid droplets is then flowed downwards into the vertically oriented separation system 804. Within the vertically oriented separation system 804, the liquid droplets including the impurities are separated from the natural gas stream 806, resulting in the generation of a purified gas stream 818 and a rich solvent stream 820.

The process flow diagram of FIG. 8 is not intended to indicate that the vertically oriented co-current contacting system 800 is to include all of the components shown in FIG. 8. Further, the vertically oriented co-current contacting system 800 may include any number of additional components not shown in FIG. 8, depending on the details of the specific implementation. For example, while the mixers 808A-C and the mass transfer sections 810A-C of the co-current contactors 801, 802, and 803 are described as being vertically oriented, in some embodiments, the mixers 808A-C or mass transfer sections 810A-C may be horizontally oriented. Moreover, while the separation system 804 is described as being vertically oriented, in some embodiments, the separation system 804 may be horizontally oriented. The orientation of each component of the vertically oriented co-current contacting system 800 may be chosen for each implementation based on the amount of incorporation of the liquid droplets into the natural gas stream 806 that is desired, as well as the specific dimensions of the space in which the vertically oriented co-current contacting system 800 is to be placed.

FIG. 9 is a schematic of a vertically oriented co-current contacting system 900. The vertically oriented co-current contacting system 900 may provide for the separation of components within a gas stream. In addition, the vertically oriented co-current contacting system 900 may aid in the implementation of various gas processing systems, such as the gas processing systems 200 and 260 of FIGS. 2A and 2B, where the rapid separation of components is desired. In some embodiments, the vertically oriented co-current contacting system 900 is one of the vertically oriented co-current contacting systems 204A-F, 402A-C, 500A-C, 602A-C, 700, or 800 discussed with respect to FIG. 2A, 2B, 4A, 4B, 5, 6, 7A-C, or 8, respectively.

The vertically oriented co-current contacting system 900 may include a vertically oriented co-current contactor 902 that is positioned in-line within a pipe 904. The vertically oriented co-current contactor 902 may include a number of components that provide for the efficient contacting of a liquid droplet stream with a flowing gas stream 906. The liquid droplet stream can be used for the separation of impurities, such as H₂O, H₂S, or CO₂, from the gas stream 906.

In various embodiments, the vertically oriented co-current contactor 902 includes a vertically oriented mixer 908 and a vertically oriented mass transfer section 910. As shown in FIG. 9, the gas stream 906 may be flowed through the pipe 904 and into the vertically oriented mixer 908. A liquid stream 912 may also be flowed into the vertically oriented mixer 908, for example, through a hollow space 914 coupled to flow channels 916 in the vertically oriented mixer 908. The liquid stream 912 may include any type of treating liquid, e.g., solvent, that is capable of removing the impurities from the gas stream 906.

From the flow channels 916, the liquid stream 912 is released into the gas stream 906 as fine droplets through injection orifices 918, and is then flowed into the vertically oriented mass transfer section 910. This may result in the generation of a treated gas stream 920 within the vertically oriented mass transfer section 910. The treated gas stream 920 may include small liquid droplets dispersed in a gas phase. The liquid droplets may include impurities from the gas stream 906 that were adsorbed or dissolved into the liquid stream 912.

The treated gas stream 920 may be flowed from the vertically oriented mass transfer section 910 to a separation system 922, such as a cyclonic separator, a mesh screen, or a settling vessel. The separation system 922 may be either vertically oriented or horizontally oriented, depending on the details of the specific implementation. The separation system 922 removes the liquid droplets from the gas phase. The liquid droplets may include the original liquid stream with the incorporated impurities 924, and the gas phase may include a purified gas stream 926. In some embodiments, the purified gas stream 926 is a dehydrated gas stream that has been purified via the removal of H₂O. In other embodiments, the purified gas stream 926 is a purified gas stream that has been purified via the removal of H₂S and/or CO₂, for example.

FIG. 10A is a top view of a vertically oriented mixer 1000. The vertically oriented mixer 1000 is implemented within a vertically oriented co-current contactor, such as the vertically oriented co-current contactor 902 described with respect to the vertically oriented co-current contacting system 900 of FIG. 9. The vertically oriented mixer 1000 may be an axial, in-line mixer located within a pipe. The top view of the vertically oriented mixer 1000 represents an upstream view of the vertically oriented mixer 1000.

The vertically oriented mixer 1000 may include an outer annular support ring 1002, a number of radial blades 1004 extending from the annular support ring 1002, and a central gas entry cone 1006. The annular support ring 1002 may secure the vertically oriented mixer 1000 in-line within the pipe. In addition, the radial blades 1004 may provide support for the central gas entry cone 1006.

The annular support ring 1002 may be designed as a flanged connection, or as a removable or fixed sleeve inside the pipe. In addition, the annular support ring 1002 may include a liquid feed system and a hollow channel discussed further with respect to FIGS. 9, 10C and 10D. A liquid stream may be fed to the vertically oriented mixer 1000 via the hollow channel in the annular support ring 1002. The hollow channel may allow equal distribution of the liquid stream along the perimeter of the vertically oriented mixer 1000.

Small liquid channels within the annular support ring 1002 may provide a flow path for the liquid stream to flow through injection orifices 1008 within the radial blades 1004. The liquid injection orifices 1008 may be located on or near the leading edge of each radial blade 1004. Placement of the liquid injection orifices 1008 on the radial blades 1004 may allow the liquid stream to be uniformly distributed in a gas stream that is directed between the radial blades 1004. Specifically, the liquid stream may be contacted by the gas stream flowing through the gaps between the radial blades 1004, and may be sheared into small droplets and entrained in the gas phase.

The gas stream may also be flowed into the central gas entry cone 1006 through a gas inlet 1012. The central gas entry cone 1006 may block a cross-sectional portion of the pipe. The radial blades 1004 include gas exit slots 1010 that allow the gas stream to be flowed out of the central gas entry cone 1006. This may increase the velocity of the gas stream as it flows through the pipe. The central gas entry cone 1006 may direct a predetermined amount of the gas stream to the gas exit slots 1010 on the radial blades 1004.

Some of the liquid stream injected through the radial blades 1004 may be deposited on the surface of the radial blades 1004 as a liquid film. As the gas stream flows through the central gas entry cone 1006 and is directed out of the gas exit slots 1010 on the radial blades 1004, the gas stream may sweep, or blow, much of the liquid film off the radial blades 1004. This may enhance the dispersion of the liquid stream into the gas phase. Further, the obstruction to the flow of the gas stream and the shear edges created by the central gas entry cone 1006 may provide a zone with an increased turbulent dissipation rate. The may result in the generation of smaller droplets that enhance the mass transfer rate of the liquid stream and the gas stream.

The size of the vertically oriented mixer 1000 may be adjusted such that the gas stream flows at a high velocity. This may be accomplished via either a sudden reduction in the diameter of the annular support ring 1002 or a gradual reduction in the diameter of the annular support ring 1002. The outer wall of the vertically oriented mixer 1000 may be slightly converging in shape, terminating at the point where the gas stream and the liquid stream are discharged into the downstream vertically oriented mass transfer section. This may allow for the shearing and re-entrainment of any liquid film that is removed from the vertically oriented mixer 1000. Further, a radial inward ring, grooved surface, or other suitable equipment may be included on the outer diameter of the vertically oriented mixer 1000 near the point where the gas stream and the liquid stream are discharged into the downstream vertically oriented mass transfer section. This may enhance the degree of liquid entrainment within the gas phase.

The downstream end of the vertically oriented mixer 1000 may discharge into a vertically oriented mass transfer section (not shown). The vertically oriented mass transfer section may be a straight section of pipe, or a concentric expansion section of pipe. In some embodiments, the central gas entry cone 1006 terminates with a blunt ended cone or a tapered ended cone. In other embodiments, the central gas entry cone 1006 terminates with a ridged cone, which may include multiple concentric ridges along the cone that provide multiple locations for droplet generation. In addition, any number of gas exit slots 1010 may be provided on the cone itself to allow for the removal of the liquid film from the vertically oriented mixer 1000.

FIG. 10B is a top perspective view of the vertically oriented mixer 1000 of FIG. 10A. Like numbered items are as described with respect to FIG. 10A. As shown in FIG. 10B, the upstream portion of the central gas entry cone 1006 may extend further into the pipe than the annular support ring 1002 and the radial blades 1004 in the upstream direction. The downstream portion of the central gas entry cone 1006 may also extend further into the pipe than the annular support ring 1002 and the radial blades 1004 in the downstream direction. The length of the central gas entry cone 1006 in the downstream direction depends on the type of cone at the end of the central gas entry cone 1006, as discussed further with respect to FIGS. 10C and 10D.

FIG. 10C is a cross-sectional side perspective view of the vertically oriented mixer 1000 of FIGS. 10A and 10B. Like numbered items are as described with respect to FIGS. 10A and 10B. According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 10C, the central gas entry cone 1006 of the vertically oriented mixer 1000 terminates with a tapered ended cone 1014. Terminating the central gas entry cone 1006 with a tapered ended cone 1014 may reduce the overall pressure drop in the pipe caused by the vertically oriented mixer 1000.

FIG. 10D is another cross-sectional side perspective view of the vertically oriented mixer 1000 of FIGS. 10A-C. Like numbered items are as described with respect to FIGS. 10A-C. According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 10D, the central gas entry cone 1006 of the vertically oriented mixer 1000 terminates with a blunt ended cone 1016. Terminating the central gas entry cone 1006 with a blunt ended cone 1016 may encourage droplet formation in the center of the pipe.

Method for Separating Impurities from a Gas Stream

FIG. 11 is a process flow diagram of a method 1100 for separating impurities from a gas stream. The method 1100 is implemented by one or more vertically oriented co-current contacting systems within a gas processing system. The method begins at block 1102, at which a liquid stream is flowed into a vertically oriented co-current contactor. More specifically, the liquid stream is flowed into a vertically oriented mixer of the vertically oriented co-current contactor. The liquid stream may be flowed into the vertically oriented mixer via an annular support ring and a number of radial blades extending from the annular support ring. The annular support ring may secure the vertically oriented mixer in-line within a pipe. The liquid stream may be any suitable type of absorbent liquid stream, for example.

At block 1104, a gas stream is flowed into the vertically oriented co-current contactor. More specifically, the gas stream is flowed into the vertically oriented mixer of the vertically oriented co-current contactor. The gas stream may be flowed into the vertically oriented mixer via a central gas entry cone that is supported by the radial blades. The gas stream may be a natural gas stream, for example.

At block 1106, the gas stream is contacted with the liquid stream within the vertically oriented co-current contactor to provide for incorporation of liquid droplets formed from the liquid stream into the gas stream. More specifically, the gas stream is contacted with the liquid stream within the vertically oriented mixer and a vertically oriented mass transfer section of the vertically oriented co-current contactor. In various embodiments, impurities within the gas stream are incorporated into the liquid droplets. Such impurities may include water or acid gas, such as H₂S or CO₂, for example.

In some embodiments, the central gas entry cone increases the turbulence of the gas flow by partially obstructing the gas flow. Such an increase in turbulence may result in an increase in the amount of dispersion of the liquid droplets within the gas stream. In addition, shearing forces created by the shape of the vertically oriented co-current contactor may aid in the dispersion of the liquid droplets within the gas stream.

At block 1108, the liquid droplets are separated from the gas stream within a separation system. The separation system may be a cyclonic separator or a separation column, for example. Moreover, the separation system may be either vertically oriented or horizontally oriented, depending on the details of the specific implementation. In various embodiments, impurities that have been incorporated into the liquid droplets are also separated from the gas stream along with the liquid droplets. This may result in the generation of a purified gas stream. For example, if the gas stream is a natural gas stream, and the impurities include water, the natural gas stream may be dehydrated via the removal of the water. As another example, if the gas stream is a natural gas stream, and the impurities include acid gas, the natural gas stream may be sweetened via the removal of the acid gas.

The process flow diagram of FIG. 11 is not intended to indicate that the blocks of the method 1100 are to be executed in any particular order, or that all of the blocks of the method 1100 are to be included in every case. Further, any number of additional blocks not shown in FIG. 11 may be included within the method 1100, depending on the details of the specific implementation. For example, the gas stream may be flowed through any number of additional vertically oriented co-current contacting systems connected in series within the pipe. In some embodiments, the vertically oriented co-current contacting systems progressively purify the gas stream by removing residual impurities. Further, in some embodiments, the impurities are removed from the liquid stream downstream of the separation system. The liquid stream may then be recycled to the vertically oriented co-current contacting system, or may be flowed into another vertically oriented co-current contacting system.

In various embodiments, a single vertically oriented co-current contacting system includes a series of vertically oriented co-current contactors upstream of a separation system. In such embodiments, the gas stream is contacted with the liquid stream within each vertically oriented co-current contactor to provide for incorporation of liquid droplets formed from the liquid stream into the gas stream, and the liquid droplets are then separated from the gas stream within the downstream separation system. This embodiment is described further with respect to FIG. 12.

In some embodiments, the method 1100 may be used for quench applications. For example, the method 1100 may be used for injection of cooling water or direct injection of hot oil for ethylene quenching applications. In addition, the method 1100 may be used for water wash applications, such as water wash applications including an acid gas absorber overhead stream.

FIG. 12 is a process flow diagram of a method 1200 for separating impurities from a natural gas stream using a vertically-oriented co-current contacting system that includes multiple vertically-oriented co-current contactors upstream of a single separation system. In various embodiments, the method 1200 may be implemented by any suitable type of co-current contacting system that includes multiple vertically-oriented co-current contactors upstream of a single separation system, such as the co-current contacting system 700 described with respect to FIG. 7C or the co-current contacting system 800 described with respect to FIG. 8.

The method begins at block 1202, at which a semi-lean solvent stream is flowed into a first vertically oriented co-current contactor of the vertically oriented co-current contacting system. In addition, at block 1204, a natural gas stream is flowed into the first vertically oriented co-current contactor. More specifically, the semi-lean solvent stream and the natural gas stream are flowed into a vertically oriented mixer of the first vertically oriented co-current contactor.

At block 1206, the natural gas stream is contacted with the semi-lean solvent stream within the first vertically oriented co-current contactor to provide a first multi-phase stream. More specifically, the natural gas stream is contacted with the semi-lean solvent stream within the vertically oriented mixer and a vertically oriented mass transfer section of the first vertically oriented co-current contactor. The first multi-phase stream is the natural gas stream with incorporated liquid droplets formed from the semi-lean solvent stream. The incorporated liquid droplets include impurities from the natural gas stream.

At block 1208, the first multi-phase stream is flowed into a second vertically oriented co-current contactor of the vertically oriented co-current contacting system. In addition, at block 1210, a lean solvent stream is flowed into the second vertically oriented co-current contactor. More specifically, the first multi-phase stream and the lean solvent stream are flowed into a vertically oriented mixer of the second vertically oriented co-current contactor.

At block 1212, the first multi-phase stream is contacted with the lean solvent stream within the second vertically oriented co-current contactor to provide a second multi-phase stream. More specifically, the first multi-phase stream is contacted with the lean solvent stream within the vertically oriented mixer and a vertically oriented mass transfer section of the second vertically oriented co-current contactor. The second multi-phase stream is the natural gas stream with additional incorporated liquid droplets formed from the lean solvent stream. The additional incorporated liquid droplets include residual impurities from the natural gas stream.

At block 1214, the second multi-phase stream is separated into a purified natural gas stream and a rich solvent stream within a separation system. The separation system may be either vertically oriented or horizontally oriented, depending on the details of the specific implementation. In various embodiments, the use of multiple vertically oriented co-current contactors upstream of a single separation system allows for an increase in the degree of separation of impurities from the natural gas stream with a limited corresponding increase in the size and weight of the entire vertically oriented co-current contacting system.

The process flow diagram of FIG. 12 is not intended to indicate that the blocks of the method 1200 are to be executed in any particular order, or that all of the blocks of the method 1200 are to be included in every case. Further, any number of additional blocks not shown in FIG. 12 may be included within the method 1200, depending on the details of the specific implementation.

Embodiments

Embodiments of the invention may include any combinations of the methods and systems shown in the following numbered paragraphs. This is not to be considered a complete listing of all possible embodiments, as any number of variations can be envisioned from the description above.

-   1. A vertically oriented co-current contacting system, including:     -   a vertically oriented co-current contactor located in-line         within a pipe, the vertically oriented co-current contactor         including:         -   a vertically oriented mixer, including:             -   an annular support ring configured to maintain the                 vertically oriented mixer within the pipe;             -   a number of radial blades configured to allow a liquid                 stream to flow into the vertically oriented mixer; and             -   a central gas entry cone configured to allow a gas                 stream to flow through a hollow section within the                 vertically oriented mixer; and         -   a vertically oriented mass transfer section downstream of             the vertically oriented mixer;         -   wherein the vertically oriented mixer and the vertically             oriented mass transfer section provide for efficient             incorporation of liquid droplets formed from the liquid             stream into the gas stream, and wherein the liquid droplets             include impurities from the gas stream; and     -   a separation system configured to remove the liquid droplets         including the impurities from the gas stream. -   2. The vertically oriented co-current contacting system of paragraph     1, wherein the separation system is vertically oriented. -   3. The vertically oriented co-current contacting system of any of     paragraphs 1 and 2, wherein the separation system is horizontally     oriented. -   4. The vertically oriented co-current contacting system of any of     paragraphs 1-3, wherein the vertically oriented co-current     contacting system includes a first vertically oriented co-current     contactor and a second vertically oriented co-current contactor     upstream of the separation system. -   5. The vertically oriented co-current contacting system of paragraph     4, wherein the liquid stream that is flowed into the vertically     oriented mixer of the first vertically oriented co-current contactor     includes a semi-lean solvent stream, and wherein the liquid stream     that is flowed into the vertically oriented mixer of the second     vertically oriented co-current contactor includes a lean solvent     stream. -   6. The vertically oriented co-current contacting system of any of     paragraphs 1-4, wherein the gas stream includes a natural gas     stream, and wherein the impurities include water. -   7. The vertically oriented co-current contacting system of any of     paragraphs 1-4 and 6, wherein the gas stream includes a natural gas     stream, and wherein the impurities include an acid gas. -   8. The vertically oriented co-current contacting system of any of     paragraphs 1-4, 6, and 7, wherein the separation system includes a     cyclonic separator. -   9. The vertically oriented co-current contacting system of any of     paragraphs 1-4 and 6-8, wherein the separation system includes a     distillation column. -   10. The vertically oriented co-current contacting system of any of     paragraphs 1-4 and 6-9, wherein a downstream portion of the central     gas entry cone includes a blunt ended cone. -   11. The vertically oriented co-current contacting system of any of     paragraphs 1-4 and 6-10, wherein a downstream portion of the central     gas entry cone includes a tapered ended cone. -   12. The vertically oriented co-current contacting system of any of     paragraphs 1-4 and 6-11, wherein the liquid stream includes an     absorbent liquid stream. -   13. The vertically oriented co-current contacting system of any of     paragraphs 1-4 and 6-12, including a number of vertically oriented     co-current contacting systems connected in series within the pipe. -   14. The vertically oriented co-current contacting system of any of     paragraphs 1-4 and 6-13, wherein the vertically oriented co-current     contacting system is implemented within a gas processing system. -   15. The vertically oriented co-current contacting system of any of     paragraphs 1-4 and 6-14, wherein the vertically oriented co-current     contacting system is used for quench applications. -   16. The vertically oriented co-current contacting system of any of     paragraphs 1-4 and 6-15, wherein the vertically oriented co-current     contacting system is used for water wash applications. -   17. A method for separating impurities from a gas stream, including:     -   flowing a liquid stream into a vertically oriented mixer of a         vertically oriented co-current contactor via an annular support         ring and a number of radial blades extending from the annular         support ring, wherein the annular support ring secures the         vertically oriented mixer in-line within a pipe;     -   flowing a gas stream into the vertically oriented mixer via a         central gas entry cone that is supported by the number of radial         blades, wherein a first portion of the gas stream flows through         the central gas entry cone and a second portion of the gas         stream flows around the central gas entry cone between the         number of radial blades;     -   contacting the gas stream with the liquid stream within the         vertically oriented mixer and a vertically oriented mass         transfer section of the vertically oriented co-current contactor         to provide for incorporation of liquid droplets formed from the         liquid stream into the gas stream, wherein the liquid droplets         include impurities from the gas stream; and     -   separating the liquid droplets including the impurities from the         gas stream within a separation system. -   18. The method of paragraph 17, including flowing the gas stream     through a number of vertically oriented co-current contactors     upstream of the separation system. -   19. The method of any of paragraphs 17 and 18, including flowing the     gas stream through a number of vertically oriented co-current     contactors and corresponding separation systems connected in series     within the pipe. -   20. The method of any of paragraphs 17-19, wherein the gas stream     includes a natural gas stream, and wherein the impurities include     water. -   21. The method of paragraph 20, including generating a dehydrated     natural gas stream by removing liquid droplets including     incorporated water from the natural gas stream. -   22. The method of any of paragraphs 17-20, wherein the gas stream     includes a natural gas stream, and wherein the impurities include     acid gas. -   23. The method of paragraph 22, including generating a sweetened     natural gas stream by removing liquid droplets including     incorporated acid gas from the natural gas stream. -   24. A method for separating impurities from a natural gas stream,     including:     -   flowing a semi-lean solvent stream into a first vertically         oriented co-current contactor of a vertically oriented         co-current contacting system;     -   flowing a natural gas stream into the first vertically oriented         co-current contactor;     -   contacting the natural gas stream with the semi-lean solvent         stream within the first vertically oriented co-current contactor         to provide a first multi-phase stream, wherein the first         multi-phase stream includes the natural gas stream with         incorporated liquid droplets formed from the semi-lean solvent         stream that include impurities from the natural gas stream;     -   flowing the first multi-phase stream into a second vertically         oriented co-current contactor of the vertically oriented         co-current contacting system;     -   flowing a lean solvent stream into the second vertically         oriented co-current contactor;     -   contacting the first multi-phase stream with the lean solvent         stream within the second vertically oriented co-current         contactor to provide a second multi-phase stream, wherein the         second multi-phase stream includes the natural gas stream with         additional incorporated liquid droplets formed from the lean         solvent stream that include residual impurities from the natural         gas stream; and     -   separating the second multi-phase stream into a purified natural         gas stream and a rich solvent stream within a separation system         of the vertically oriented co-current contacting system. -   25. The method of paragraph 24, wherein the natural gas stream and     the semi-lean solvent stream are flowed into a vertically oriented     mixer of the first vertically oriented co-current contactor, and     wherein the natural gas stream is contacted with the semi-lean     solvent stream within the vertically oriented mixer and a vertically     oriented mass transfer section of the first vertically oriented     co-current contactor. -   26. The method of any of paragraphs 24 and 25, wherein the first     multi-phase stream and the lean solvent stream are flowed into a     vertically oriented mixer of the second vertically oriented     co-current contactor, and wherein the first multi-phase stream is     contacted with the lean solvent stream within the vertically     oriented mixer and a vertically oriented mass transfer section of     the second vertically oriented co-current contactor. -   27. The method of any of paragraphs 24-26, wherein the impurities     include water, and wherein a dehydrated natural gas stream is     generated by removing liquid droplets including incorporated water     from the natural gas stream. -   28. The method of any of paragraphs 24-27, wherein the impurities     include acid gas, and wherein a sweetened natural gas stream is     generated by removing liquid droplets including incorporated acid     gas from the natural gas stream. -   29. The method of any of paragraphs 24-28, including:     -   regenerating the semi-lean solvent stream and the lean solvent         stream from the rich solvent stream within a second vertically         oriented co-current contacting system;     -   recirculating the semi-lean solvent stream to the first         vertically oriented co-current contactor; and     -   recirculating the lean solvent stream to the second vertically         oriented co-current contactor.

While the present techniques may be susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, the embodiments discussed above have been shown only by way of example. However, it should again be understood that the techniques is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed herein. Indeed, the present techniques include all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents falling within the true spirit and scope of the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for separating impurities from a gas stream, comprising: flowing a liquid stream into a mixer of a co-current contactor via an annular support ring and a plurality of radial blades extending from the annular support ring, wherein the annular support ring secures the mixer in-line within a pipe; flowing a gas stream into the mixer via a central gas entry cone that is supported by the plurality of radial blades, wherein a first portion of the gas stream flows through the central gas entry cone and a second portion of the gas stream flows around the central gas entry cone between the plurality of radial blades; co-currently contacting the gas stream with the liquid stream within the mixer and a mass transfer section of the co-current contactor to provide for incorporation of liquid droplets formed from the liquid stream into the gas stream, wherein the liquid droplets comprise impurities from the gas stream; and separating the liquid droplets comprising the impurities from the gas stream within a separation system.
 2. The method of claim 1, comprising flowing the gas stream through a plurality of co-current contactors upstream of the separation system.
 3. The method of claim 1, comprising flowing the gas stream through a plurality of co-current contactors and corresponding separation systems connected in series within the pipe.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the liquid stream is flowed into the co-current contactor via a hollow channel in the annular support ring and the plurality of radial blades, and further comprising: injecting the liquid stream into the gas stream via injection orifices disposed on the plurality of radial blades.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first portion of the gas stream flows through a hollow section in the central gas entry cone and through gas exit slots included in the plurality of radial blades.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the gas stream comprises a natural gas stream, and wherein the impurities comprise water.
 7. The method of claim 6, comprising generating a dehydrated natural gas stream by removing liquid droplets comprising incorporated water from the natural gas stream.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the gas stream comprises a natural gas stream, and wherein the impurities comprise acid gas.
 9. The method of claim 8, comprising generating a sweetened natural gas stream by removing liquid droplets comprising incorporated acid gas from the natural gas stream. 